Dispensing Rack for Thermoplastic Bags

ABSTRACT

The invention relates generally to an improved rack for dispensing individual thermoplastic bags from a bag stack. Embodiments of the invention may be especially beneficial for dispensing individual square-bottomed bags. In an embodiment of the invention, the dispensing rack includes at least one mounting hook; at least one rear deforming member coupled to the at least one mounting hook; and at least one front deforming member coupled to the at least one rear deforming member, the rack configured to hang the bag stack from the at least one mounting hook and deform the bag stack in a serpentine manner between the at least one rear deforming member and the at least one front deforming member when the bag stack is disposed on the rack.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to the handling of thermoplastic bags. In particular, but not by way of limitation, the invention relates to a rack for individually dispensing square-bottomed bags from a stack of thermoplastic bags. The dispensing rack can be used, for instance, at a point-of-sale register in a retail shopping environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Thin-walled thermoplastic bags with an open top side are commonly used in retail stores to bundle consumer purchases at a point of sale. In retail stores, a stack of bags is typically placed on a dispensing rack so that each bag in the stack can be individually opened, filled with consumer goods, and removed from the rack. Such bags usually communicate with the rack in three places: a first and second rack arm are threaded through corresponding die cuts or other holes in the first and second handles; and a rack hook passes through a die cut or other hole in a center portion of the bag near the bag opening.

In a typical bag-filling process, a person may first tug on a front portion of a first bag in the stack to widen the opening of the first bag. The bags are configured so that a rear portion of the first bag tends to stick to a second bag in the stack. The person then begins filling the first bag. When the first bag is full, the person may again tug on the first bag to fully release it from the stack, and then lift the bag using the handles. This second tug should also cause a front portion of the second bag in the stack to separate from a rear portion of the second bag, thus automatically opening the second bag to permit immediate filling.

The conventional rack and bag dispensing process described above is not generally applicable to square-bottomed bags, however, since square-bottomed bags are typically filled on a flat surface rather than when such a bag is suspended from a rack. A need exists to more easily dispense individual square-bottomed bags from a stack of thermoplastic bags.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention seeks to overcome one or more of the limitations described above by providing an improved rack that may be especially beneficial for dispensing individual square-bottomed bags. In an embodiment of the invention, the dispensing rack includes at least one mounting hook; at least one rear deforming member coupled to the at least one mounting hook; and at least one front deforming member coupled to the at least one rear deforming member, the rack configured to hang the bag stack from the at least one mounting hook and deform the bag stack in a serpentine manner between the at least one rear deforming member and the at least one front deforming member when the bag stack is disposed on the rack. These and other features are more fully described in the detailed description section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a dispensing rack, according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of a dispensing rack, according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack holding a stack of bags; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack during a bag-dispensing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to FIGS. 1-6. Reference designators are reused for the same or similar features. The drawings are not necessarily to scale. Some features illustrated in the drawings may have been exaggerated for descriptive clarity.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack, according to a first embodiment of the invention. As shown therein, a frame 105 is coupled to a base 110 such that a plane of the frame 105 and a plane of the base 110 are orthogonal. In the illustrated embodiment, a mounting hook 115, a routing member 120, and arms 135, 140 are each connected to the frame 105. Tubes 125, 130 are preferably connected to at least the frame 105. Each of the components 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, and 140 are preferably manufactured from stainless steel or powder-coated steel, although aluminum, hard plastic, wood, or other rigid material could be used for one or more such components according to design choice. As an example, the tubes 125, 130 may be sections of Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) made of thin-walled steel or aluminum.

FIGS. 2 and 3 provide top and front elevation views, respectively, of the dispensing rack shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also illustrates a serpentine bag stack routing path 205 that is defined by the routing member 120, tubes 125, 130, and arms 135, 140. The tubes 125, 130 can be considered rear deforming members. The routing member 120 and arms 135, 140 can be considered front deforming members. When the dispensing rack is in use, a bag stack (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) is hung on the mounting hook 115 and generally deformed along the serpentine bag stack routing path 205 to facilitate dispensing of individual bags from the bag stack. Such operation is further described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Variations to the structure illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 are possible. For instance, in alternative embodiments, the frame 105 could be a solid sheet rather than a tubular frame. In a wall-mount configuration, the base 110 can be omitted. In yet another embodiment, the mounting hook 115, routing member 120, and/or arms 135, 140 could be disposed in approximately the same spatial positions shown in FIGS. 1-3, but directly connected to the base 110 rather than the frame 105. In this instance, the frame 105 may not be required. Although the components illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and discussed above are preferably welded or brazed together, conventional joining/fastening hardware could also be used to accomplish this same objective. Alternative structures can be used for the rear and/or front deforming members; some alternative rear deforming members are discussed below.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack, according to a second embodiment of the invention. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a corrugated sheet 405 can be substituted for the tubes 125, 130. As shown, ridges and grooves of the corrugated sheet 405 extend substantially in a vertical direction. In this embodiment, the corrugated sheet 405 can be considered a rear deforming member, and may be connected to the frame 105 and/or the base 110. The corrugated sheet 405 could be or include, for instance, a corrugated aluminum, corrugated, steel, or corrugated fiberglass sheet. A serpentine bag stack routing path 410 is defined by the corrugated sheet 405, mounting hook 115, routing member 120, and arms 135, 140. When the dispensing rack is in use, a bag stack (not shown in FIG. 4) is hung from the mounting hook 115 and generally deformed along the serpentine bag stack routing path 410 to facilitate dispensing of a bag from the bag stack. Such operation is further described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. A wall-mount variant of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 does not require the base 110.

In another embodiment (not shown), the tubes 125, 130 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 are replaced with lengths of angle iron (disposed vertically) to function as a rear deforming members. In this instance, the lengths of angle iron could be attached to the frame 105 and/or the base 110. A wall-mounted variant of this embodiment may not include the base 110.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack holding a stack of bags. A portion of the bag stack 505 includes tabs 510; the tabs 510 include a die cut hole configured to cooperate with the mounting hook 115 so the bag stack 505 can hang on the rack. In the case of the first dispending rack embodiment, the bag stack 505 is disposed in front of tubes 125, 130 (not shown). In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the bag stack 505 is disposed in front of corrugated sheet 405. Using either embodiment of the dispensing rack, the bag stack 505 is disposed behind the routing member 120 and arms 135, 140, as illustrated. A serpentine routing path for the bag stack 505 is evident with reference to a bottom edge 515 of the bag stack 505.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a dispensing rack during a bag-dispensing operation. Advantageously, the serpentine contour of the bag stack 505 that is disposed on the dispensing rack tends to separate bags in the bag stack 505 to facilitate the bag-dispensing process. A user can simply grasp a portion of a first or next bag by hand 605 to remove the first or next bag from the bag stack 505.

Embodiments of the invention thus provide an improved rack that may be especially, although not exclusively, beneficial for dispensing square-bottomed bags from a bag stack. Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein. Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention. 

I claim:
 1. A rack for dispensing individual bags from a bag stack, the rack comprising: at least one mounting hook; at least one rear deforming member coupled to the at least one mounting hook; and at least one front deforming member coupled to the at least one rear deforming member, the rack configured to hang the bag stack from the at least one mounting hook and deform the bag stack in a serpentine manner between the at least one rear deforming member and the at least one front deforming member when the bag stack is disposed on the rack.
 2. The rack of claim 1, further comprising a frame connected to the at least one rear deforming member and the at least one mounting hook.
 3. The rack of claim 2, further comprising a base connected to the frame, a plane of the frame being orthogonal to a plane of the base.
 4. The rack of claim 1 wherein the at least one rear deforming member includes a first tube and a second tube, each of the first tube and the second tube being disposed with a longitudinal axis being substantially vertical when the rack is in use.
 5. The rack of claim 4, wherein the first tube and the second tube are made from Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT).
 6. The rack of claim 1 wherein the at least one rear deforming member includes a corrugated sheet.
 7. The rack of claim 6 wherein ridges and grooves of the corrugated sheet extend substantially in a vertical direction.
 8. The rack of claim 6 wherein the corrugated sheet is manufactured from steel.
 9. The rack of claim 6 wherein the corrugated sheet is manufactured from aluminum.
 10. The rack of claim 6 wherein the corrugated sheet is manufactured from fiberglass.
 11. The rack of claim 1 wherein the at least one rear deforming member includes a length of angle iron.
 12. The rack of claim 1 wherein the at least one front deforming member includes three deforming members.
 13. The rack of claim 12 wherein the three deforming members include a routing member, a first arm, and a second arm.
 14. A rack for dispensing individual bags from a bag stack, the rack comprising: at least one mounting hook to hang the bag stack; and means for deforming the bag stack along a serpentine path when the bag stack is disposed on the rack. 